EP2446335A2

EP2446335A2 - Valve

Info

Publication number: EP2446335A2
Application number: EP10734440A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Martin Fangmeier
Original assignee: Neoperl GmbH
Current assignee: Neoperl GmbH
Priority date: 2009-06-24
Filing date: 2010-06-18
Publication date: 2012-05-02
Anticipated expiration: 2030-06-18
Also published as: EP2446335B1; DE102009030182A1; WO2010149313A3; US20120138839A1; CN102804095A; US8919373B2; CN102804095B; WO2010149313A2

Abstract

The invention relates to a valve (101) that can be used as a pressure limiter, for example in a sanitary supply line. The valve (101) according to the invention comprises a valve housing (1), a fluid line piece (2) being provided in the housing interior thereof, the downstream side circumferential edge area thereof forming a valve seat (3) for a valve body (4), wherein said valve body (4) can be displaced between an open position and a closed position, in which closed position the valve body (4) acts on the downstream circumferential edge area of the fluid line piece (2), by the pressure of the fluid flowing in through the fluid line piece (2) on one side, and a downstream side pressure acting on the valve body (4) opposite to the regular flow-through direction on the other side.

Description

Valve

The present invention relates to a valve that is particularly intended for sanitary use.

When operating pressure-sensitive and in particular pressureless hot water generators special outlet fittings are necessary regularly, which can not provide the water flowing through the supply line excessively high resistance and thereby avoid an undesirable increase in pressure. Thus, for example, in conjunction with pressure-sensitive water generators regularly only unaerated jet regulators and thus such hot water outlets are used, which generate no back pressure.

Increasingly enjoy such sanitary shower heads of appreciation, which have a shower head with a large shower surface, which carries a variety of relatively small spray holes. With the help of such shower heads can produce a shower shower, which is formed of a variety of fine filamentary single rays. The disadvantage, however, is that in their clear cross section comparatively small shower openings can easily close by limescale and dirt deposits. As the shower openings close, there is an increased risk that the water flowing into the shower head will build up pressure there, which may lead to deformation and ultimately to breakage of the shower head.

There is therefore in particular the task of a constructive to create a simple and producible device that counteracts the in a fluidic application, for example in a sanitary component, excessively increasing internal pressure, which can reach a maximum of the system pressure regularly counteracts.

The inventive solution to this problem is in particular m the m claim 1 described features.

The valve according to the invention has a valve housing, in whose housing interior a fluid line piece is provided. The downstream peripheral edge portion of the fluid line piece forms a valve seat for a valve body. The valve body is movable between an open position and a closed position by the pressure acting on the valve body of the fluid flowing through the fluid line piece on the one hand and a counter-pressure acting against the regular flow direction on the valve body on the other hand. The valve body changes its relative position to the valve seat m depending on the m opposite directions acting on the valve body pressures or counterpressures such that the remaining between the valve body and the valve seat valve opening is variable according to a building up back pressure. In the closed position of the valve, the valve body acts on the downstream peripheral edge region of the fluid line piece and seals there, so that the downstream pressure can not increase further. Since the valve according to the invention changes its valve opening as a function of the pressures and counterpressures acting on the valve body m in opposite directions, the valve according to the invention reacts quickly to a build-up downstream pressure. Since the valve according to the invention moves into its closed position when the outflow-side pressure rises sharply, pressure-related dingten malfunction and damage effectively counteracted.

A preferred embodiment according to the invention provides that the housing inner circumference of the valve housing is designed as a sliding guide for the valve body, so that the valve body along the housing inner periphery between the open position and the closed position is movable.

The valve body is movable in a closed linear guide when the guideway of the valve body associated sliding guide between the housing inner circumference of the valve housing and the outer periphery of the fluid line section is bounded.

A preferred embodiment according to the invention, which allows a very compact and space-saving design of the valve according to the invention, provides that the valve body has at least one preferably annular slide displaceably guided in the sliding guide and a closure piece which acts on the valve seat in the closed position and that between the slider and the closure piece is provided at least one flow opening. In such an embodiment, the closure piece may also form the rear part region of the valve body in the direction of flow, while the slider m is displaceably guided between the annular space provided between the outer circumference of the fluid line piece and the inner circumference of the housing.

A uniform pressure-dependent mode of operation of the valve according to the invention is favored when the valve body and in particular its closure piece has a spherical shape and / or at least in the partial area acting on the valve seat spherical or rounded shape.

In order to be able to connect a slider displaceably guided in the annular space between the housing inner circumference and the outer circumference of the fluid line piece to the closure piece located in the region of the valve seat, it is expedient for the closure piece and the slider to be connected to one another via connecting webs which have the flow openings between them limit.

In order to limit the sliding path of the valve body located in the interior of the valve housing, it is advantageous if the sliding path of the valve body is limited by at least one stop in the valve housing, which cooperates with a counter-stop on the valve body and if the stopper is preferably in the form of a housing. Inner circumference provided ring shoulder is formed and / or the counterstops are arranged in particular on the connecting webs. The stop and the counter stop determine the position of the valve body m the open position of the valve.

The valve according to the invention is particularly sensitive and easy to react even to small pressure changes or back pressures when between the housing inner circumference and the valve body and / or between the valve body and the outer periphery of the fluid line piece at least one ring seal or mechanical seal is provided.

A trouble-free operation of the valve according to the invention is favored when two mutually beabsrandete ring seals or Gleitrmgdichtungen are provided on the slider and / or on the outer circumference of the fluid line piece between which at least one annular groove formed as a fat chamber provided is.

The at least one ring seal or mechanical seal can be designed as a sealing ring in a particularly simple embodiment. However, a preferred embodiment according to the invention provides that at least one ring seal or mechanical seal is designed as a lip seal. If at least one annular seal or Gleitrmgdichtung designed as a lip seal which seals between the housing inner circumference and the valve body and / or between the valve body and the outer periphery of the fluid line piece, sticking effects that may eventually occur in sealing rings over time, avoided. The lower adhesion of such a lip seal offers the advantage that the valve body can be moved more easily in the valve housing.

In this case, an embodiment is preferred in which the at least one lip seal m is held on an annular groove provided on the valve body circumference and seals with the free peripheral edge region of at least one sealing lip on the housing inner circumference.

It is possible for the valve body located in the valve housing to be moved only by the fluid flowing in the direction of flow on the one hand and a counterpressure building up in the opposite direction on the other hand. However, a preferred embodiment according to the invention provides that the valve body is movable against a restoring force from its initial position into its open position and / or into the closed position. In such a preferred embodiment, the valve body is kept m a preferred starting position to move in a change in the pressure conditions in the valve housing against the restoring force. The restoring force can the valve body -] e after which, from which side of this restoring force applied to the valve body - are held at a preferred closed position or a preferred open position. On both sides of the valve body, reset forces act on it and if the valve body is held in a preferred intermediate position by the restoring forces, the valve body can move either in the direction of the prevailing closed position or in the direction of the open position, depending on the respective pressure difference, whereby a gymnastization of the at least a ring seal or Gleitrmgdichtung is achieved and whereby an adhesion of this seal is counteracted.

Here, a simple and producible with little effort embodiment according to the invention provides that at least one rubber-elastic or spring-elastic element serves as a restoring force.

The versatility of the valve according to the invention is favored when the valve housing is designed as a cartridge or cartridge housing.

Thus, in the sliding path delimiting annulus no closed air cushion forms, which could possibly counteract uncontrollably counteracting the valve backpressure, it is advantageous if the valve housing m the inflow-side portion of the sliding guide to the atmosphere hm is open.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the valve is designed as a pressure limiter. Such a valve designed as a pressure limiter can be used, for example, in a pressureless water heater, a coffee machine, a beverage. keautomat or be used advantageously in a shower head.

A development according to the invention provides that the valve in the flow direction, a ventilated jet regulator is connected downstream, which is preferably arranged in the water outlet of a sanitary outlet fitting. This outlet fitting may optionally also be the shower head of a hand or kitchen shower, which can be switched between a shower function and a ventilated water or single jet. Since the valve serving as a pressure limiter counteracts a pressure increase which exceeds a specified internal pressure, the installation of a ventilated jet regulator is also possible with the aid of the valve according to the invention, although this aerated jet regulator functionally generates a back pressure.

Further developments according to the invention will become apparent from the claims in conjunction with the drawings. The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to advantageous embodiments.

It shows:

FIG. 1 shows a valve designed as a pressure limiter and shown in its open position, the valve housing of which is designed as an insertion cartridge which can be used for a sanitary supply line and in particular for a water line, wherein the valve m is a longitudinal section through sectional plane II in FIG. 2 is shown

2 shows the valve of FIG. 1 in a plan view of its downstream side, 3 shows the valve of FIGS. 1 and 2 in its longitudinally cut closed position m cutting plane III-III of FIG. 4,

4 shows the valve shown in its closed position of FIG. 1 to 3 m a plan view of its downstream side,

5 shows a valve comparable with FIGS. 1 to 4 and m in a longitudinal section through sectional plane V-V m in FIG. 6 whose valve body is movable from its open position m shown here into a closed position against an air cushion,

6 is the valve shown in its closed position of FIG. 5 in a plan view of its downstream side,

7 shows the valve from FIGS. 5 and 6 in its longitudinally cut closed position in the sectional plane VII - VII in FIG.

8 shows the valve shown in its closed position of FIG. 5 to 7 m a plan view of its downstream side,

FIG. 9 shows the valve of FIGS. 5 to 8, shown in a longitudinally sectioned application example, in its open position in the sectional plane IX-IX of FIG. 10, FIG.

10 shows the m the application example of FIG. 9 valve in a plan view of its downstream side, wherein the valve is also shown here in its open position,

11 shows the valve m shown in the longitudinally sectioned application example of FIGS. 9 and 10 in its closed position, the valve being shown in the sectional plane X-X of FIG. 12, FIG.

12 shows the valve shown in an application example and shown in its closed position from FIGS. 9 to 11 in a plan view of its downstream side, FIG.

Fig. 13 is a shower head and ball joint consisting of m and a longitudinal section shown assembly, m serving as a pressure reducer valve according to FIGS.

1 to 12 is integrated,

Fig. 14, the assembly of FIG. 13 m of a perspective

Side view,

Fig. 15, the assembly shown in a longitudinal section

Fig. 13 and 14 m of the closed position of her as

Pressure limiter trained valve, wherein the

Shower head is held here by means of the ball joint m a pivotal position,

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the assembly of FIGS. 13 to 15 m of the pivoting position according to FIG. 15; FIG.

FIG. 17 is a valve shown in its longitudinally cut open position, in sectional plane XVII - XVII of FIG. 18 and configured as a pressure limiter, in which the mechanical seal provided on the valve body is designed as a lip seal, wherein the valve body is acted on both sides by restoring springs or the like restoring forces which hold the valve body in a preferred intermediate position, and

Fig. 18, the valve of Fig. 17 m a plan view of its downstream side.

FIGS. 1 to 18 show various embodiments 101, 105 and 113 and 117 of a valve which can be used as a pressure limiter and in the exemplary embodiments shown here a sanitary water conduit can be used. Each of the valve embodiments 101, 105, 113 and 117 shown here has a valve housing 1, in the housing interior of which a fluid line piece 2 is provided whose outflow-side peripheral edge region forms a valve seat 3 for a valve body 4. The valve body 4 can be moved between an open position and a closed position by the pressure acting on the valve body 4 of the fluid flowing through the fluid line piece 2 on the one hand and a counter pressure acting on the valve body 4 against the regular flow direction on the other hand.

While valve embodiments 101, 105 and 113 and 117 m are shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 10, 13, 17 and 18 in the open position of the valve, these valve embodiments 101, 105 and 113 are shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 7, 8, 11, 12 and 15 m of the closed position shown. In the closed position shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 7, 8, 11, 12 and 15, the valve body 4 acts on the downstream peripheral edge region of the fluid line piece 2. It can be seen from the longitudinal sections m in FIGS. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17 that the housing inner circumference of the valve housing 1 is designed as a sliding guide for the valve body 4. Here, the guideway of the valve body 4 associated sliding guide between the housing inner circumference of the valve housing and the outer circumference of the fluid line piece 2 is bounded.

The valve body 4 of the valve embodiments shown here 101, 105, 113 and 117 has a slider 5, which is guided displaceably in the sliding guide and - as here - can be configured annular. The slider 5 is connected to a closure piece 7 via a plurality of connecting webs 6, preferably equally spaced apart in the circumferential direction, wherein the connecting webs 6 delimit flow openings between them. The closure piece 7 is here designed spherical and thus has its m the valve seat 3 facing portion thus a rounded outer contour, which favors a centering of the valve body 4 during the closing movement of the valve.

The sliding path of the valve body 4 is m of the closed position limited by the voltage applied to the circumference of the valve body 4 valve seat 3. In the other direction of movement of the valve body 4, the sliding path is limited by at least one stop in the valve housing 1, which stop cooperates with a counter-stop on the valve body 4. In this case, the stop is configured here as an annular shoulder 8 provided on the housing inner circumference.

In the longitudinal sections according to FIGS. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15 it can be seen that between the housing inner periphery and the valve body 4 and between the valve body 4 and the outer the circumference of the fluid line piece at least one ring seal or mechanical seal is provided. For this purpose, two ring seals 9, 10 and 11, 12 are provided on the slider 5 on the one hand and on the outer circumference of the fluid line piece 2 on the other hand, the m corresponding annular grooves are held. Between the spaced and the ring seals 9, 10 and 11, 12 receiving annular grooves each have a further annular groove 13 and 14 is provided which is designed as a grease chamber and a low-friction sliding movement of the valve body 4 in its sliding guide to ensure over a longer period ,

While the ring seals 9, 10 and 11, 12 provided in the valves 101, 105 and 113 are designed as sealing rings, the valve shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 on the slider 5 on the one hand and on the outer circumference of the fluid line piece 2 on the other hand only one Ring seal 9 and 11, which are designed here as a lip seal. By means of these lip seals 9,11 Stickklebeeffekte be avoided, which may eventually occur in sealing rings over time. The lower adhesion of the lip seals 9, 11 offers the advantage that the valve body 4 can be moved more easily in the valve housing 1. Also provided in the valve 117 ring seals 9, 11 are held m corresponding annular grooves. In each case, a further annular groove 13 or 14 are provided on the inflow side of these annular grooves, which is designed as a grease chamber and also to ensure a low-friction sliding movement of the valve body 4.

The valve body 4 can be moved by the pressure forces acting in opposite directions and positioned between its open position and its closed position such that the remaining between valve body 4 and valve seat 3 Valve opening is variable according to a building up on the downstream side of the valve back pressure. In the closed position of the valve, the valve body 4 acts on the outflow-side peripheral edge region of the fluid line piece 2 formed as a valve seat 3 and seals there, so that the outflow-side pressure can not rise any further.

Since the valves shown here change their valve opening as a function of the pressures and counterpressures acting on the valve body 4 in opposite directions, these valves react rapidly to a build-up downstream pressure.

The valve body 4 can additionally be movable against its restoring force from its open position m to its closed position. As a restoring force can also serve a compressible air cushion that is located in the annular space 15 which is bounded between the housing inner circumference and the outer circumference of the fluid line piece 2 and which is located on the side facing away from the closure piece 7 of the slider 5.

In the valve embodiment 113 shown in Figs. 13 and 15, the valve body 4 is moved only by the pressure forces acting in opposite directions and the annulus 15 is connected to the atmosphere through a vent passage 16. In the m Figs. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 shown valve embodiments 101 and 105, the valve body 4 is in contrast movable against the restoring force of a return spring 17 in its closed position. In contrast, in the valve 17 shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, it is provided that the valve body can be moved from the preferred starting position shown in FIG. 17 into its open position or into its closed position. Since on the valve body 4 of the valve 117 on both sides the here from Actuate springs 17, 17 'applied restoring forces act, the valve body 4 is held in Fig. 17 in a preferred intermediate position. In this case, depending on the respectively prevailing pressure difference, the valve body 4 of the valve 117 can move against the restoring force of one of the restoring springs 17, 17 'either in the direction of the closed position or in the direction of the open position, whereby a gymnastization of the ring seals 9, 11 is achieved.

While in the valve embodiment 101 shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the return spring 17 receiving annular space 15 via the vent passage 16 and connected to the vent passage 16 vent 18 m of the valve assembly 101 receiving cartridge receptacle is connected to the environment, is used in the m Fig. 5, 7, 9 and 11 shown valve design 105 in the annular space 15 trapped air cushion in addition as restoring force.

In addition or instead, for example, a arranged in the annular space 15 and serving as restoring force ring piece is conceivable, which may be made in particular of closed-porous foam.

In the valve embodiments 101, 105 and 113 shown here, it is ensured that atmospheric pressure or a side of the slider 5 which is exposed to the counter-pressure of the slider 5 is always at a low pressure on the rear side of the slider 5 which is not exposed to the counterpressure.

In the valve embodiments 101 and 105 shown in FIGS. 1 to 12, the valve housing 1 is designed as an insert cartridge or insertion cartridge which can be detachably inserted into a cartridge receptacle. This cartridge receptacle can, for example, Example, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4 pieces of pipe or - according to the customer requirements - as a m to Figs. 9 to 12 shown pipe socket 20 may be formed.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the remaining between the valve housing 1 and the inner circumference of the pipe section 19 annular space 21 is sealed on both sides by ring seals 22, 23 and connected via the vent opening 18 with the environment.

In the application example shown in FIGS. 9 to 12, the valve housing 4 is inserted into a hole of the cartridge receptacle designed as a pipe socket 20 up to a plug-in stop configured here as an annular collar and secured by means of an inlet-side sealing ring 24 m to the insertion position.

In the valve embodiment 113 shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, the valve is part of an assembly comprising a shower head 25 and a connection-side ball joint 26. The valve housing 1 of the valve embodiment 113 shown in FIGS. 13 to 15 is configured as a joint ball of the ball joint 26.

The shower head 25, which is intended to produce a shower shower formed from a multiplicity of filiform individual jets, has a corresponding multiplicity of shower openings 27, which have a comparatively small clear opening cross-section. Since these comparatively small shower openings 27 can easily become clogged by limescale or dirt deposits, there is a risk that the shower head 25 will build up an undesirable pressure. In particular, in the case of the shower head 25 formed here from two interlocked showerhead parts 28, 29, there is the risk that such an undesired pressure will cause a Deformation or even a fraction of the thin-walled showerhead 25 can cause. Em such undesirable pressure is now prevented here by the valve 113. Since the valve assembly 113 also changes its valve opening depending on the pressures and counterpressures acting on the valve body 4 in opposite directions, the valve embodiment 113 reacts rapidly to an upstream pressure build-up. Since the valve design 113 moves with strongly rising downstream pressure in its closed position, pressure-related malfunctions and damage to the shower head 25 is effectively counteracted.

It is understood that the valve serving as a pressure limiter can also be used advantageously in other applications. Thus, the valve shown here, which can also be used in a gas or other fluid line, for example, in non-pressurized water heaters, m coffee machines or m beverage vending machines are used to counteract there also an undesirable back pressure.

/ Claims

Claims

claims

1. Valve with a valve housing (1), in the housing interior, a fluid line piece (2) is provided, the outflow-side peripheral edge portion of a valve seat

(3) for a valve body (4), which valve body (4) by acting on the valve body (4)

On the other hand, pressure of the fluid flowing through the fluid line piece (2) and a counterpressure acting against the regular flow direction is movable between an open position and a closed position, m which closed position of the valve body (4) is the downstream peripheral edge area of the fluid line piece (2).

2. Valve according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing inner circumference of the valve housing (1) is designed as a sliding guide for the valve body (4).

3. Valve according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the guideway of the valve body (4) associated sliding guide between the housing inner circumference of the valve housing (1) and the outer periphery of the Fluidleitungs- piece (2) is bounded.

4. Valve according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the valve body (4) has at least one preferably annular and in particular m of the sliding guide slidably guided slider (5) and a valve seat (3) m closing position acted upon closure piece (7) and that between the slider (5) and the closure piece (7) at least one flow opening is provided for.

5. Valve according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the valve body (4) and in particular its closure piece (7) has a spherical shape and / or at least m the valve seat (3) acting on the partial area of a spherical or rounded shape ,

6. Valve according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the closure piece (7) and the slider

(5) are interconnected by connecting webs (6) which define between them flow openings.

7. Valve according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the sliding path of the valve body (4) by at least one stop in the valve housing (1) is limited, which cooperates with a counter-stop on the valve body (4) and that the stop is preferably configured as an annular shoulder (8) provided on the housing inner circumference and / or the counterstops are arranged in particular on the connecting webs (6).

8. Valve according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that between the housing inner circumference and the valve body (4) and / or between the valve body (4) and the outer circumference of the fluid line piece (2) at least one ring seal (9, 10 ; 11. 1?) Or Gleitrmgdichtung is provided.

9. Valve according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that on the slider (5) and / or on the outer circumference of the fluid line piece (2) two spaced annular seals (9, 10, 11, 12) or Gleitrmgdichtungen are provided, between which at least one designed as a fat chamber annular groove (13, 14) is provided.

10. Valve according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that at least one ring seal or Gleitrmgdichtung (9; 11) is designed as a lip seal.

11. Valve according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the at least one lip seal is held in an annular groove provided on the valve body circumference and sealingly abuts with the free peripheral edge region of at least one sealing lip on the housing inner circumference of the valve housing (4).

12. Valve according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the valve body (4) against a restoring force from a starting position m its open position and / or in its closed position is movable.

13. Valve according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that at least one rubber-elastic or spring-elastic element serves as a restoring force.

14. Valve according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the valve housing (1) is designed as a cartridge or cartridge housing.

15. Valve according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the valve housing (1) in the inflow-side portion of the sliding guide to the environment is designed to be open.

16. Valve according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized records that the valve is designed as a pressure limiter.

17. Valve according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the valve m flow direction downstream of a ventilated jet regulator is arranged, which is preferably arranged in the water outlet of a sanitary outlet fitting.

/ Summary